kanuti 3 - 3 Madrid (382901104)

The 21202 spectators at Txoritokieta were in for an afternoon of sunshine. Tarquinio Zammuner was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Aker Aydoğan and Dragos Albu. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for kanuti. They fielded: Kaufmann - Tessler, Litjens, Johanniter - La Riba Llera, Khunkitti, Frahm, Caillault, Triplet - Candela, Ţurlea.

Madrid decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players took the field: Marcos - Sjon, Alberich - Rojas, Torres López, Dempere, Salazar Baraona, Pèlach - Camaiani, Urquiola, Fitzios.

kanuti saw most attack opportunities on the wings. Madrid mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. kanuti's D. Caillault placed the ball right at his teammate's feet after a corner, but F. Johanniter couldn't finish. kanuti took the lead 25 minutes in, as J. Litjens broke through on the left and put the 1 - 0 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. As the game started to slip away for Madrid, the manager decided to change the tactical approach. The sun seemed to put J. Pèlach in a great mood, and he showed off his technical skills all match long. After 35 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by N. Ţurlea might have resulted in another goal for kanuti. However, F. Marcos made a spectacular save. 36 minutes into the game Madrid's J. Urquiola found a gap in the home side's central defence and scored with a fabulous shot, making it 1 - 1. Against a lesser team, kanuti could very well have succeeded with their smart indirect free kick routine after 39 minutes. A trio of passes took the ball all the way past the defenders, but by then the intended recipient was already blocked off and the keeper could make a leisurely save. A mistake by the home side's central defence after 40 minutes allowed M. Salazar Baraona to score for Madrid. The scoreboard now read 1 - 2. 1 - 2 was the score after the first half. Madrid enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 62 percent of possession.

Some fine movement on the left led to a Madrid goal after 47 minutes, making it 1 - 3. J. Pèlach was noted down as the scorer. S. Fitzios was, after 49 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors' lead with a well placed diving header after the ball had looped into the centre, but the home side's keeper W. Kaufmann made the save. kanuti didn't give in and with 54 minutes played W. Khunkitti was able to make the score 2 - 3 after an attack on the right. J. Urquiola left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 55 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. E. Endo was the replacement. The Madrid captaincy was handed to E. Endo. It was obvious that kanuti had instructions to attack on the wings instead of in the middle. The crowd was on its feet 76 minutes into the match, as kanuti's B. Tessler found himself unmarked in front of the goal after a dash up the left side. He calmly put away the 3 - 3 equaliser. Madrid's J. Pèlach could have put the guests one up after 84 minutes after chasing a through ball from the right, but W. Kaufmann was as fast as a snake, grabbing the ball from under his nose. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Madrid, with 64 percent of the ball.

kanuti's top performer was clearly D. Caillault. C. Frahm turned in a dismal performance, however. S. Fitzios performed admirably for Madrid. On the other hand, F. Marcos's play was disheartening. The match ends 3 - 3.